Creative Force has a number of different ways that you can manage your color references depending on your needs. Either allows you to upload a color-accurate image as a color reference at the photography step, or later on down the line, during or after post-production
First thing first, go to your Workflows -> Settings.
You will see some options to set up the color reference.
When no color reference is available, you will be able to choose between:
Pause and wait for color reference. This will be explained in this article.
Continue without color reference. You can read more about this here.
Note:
When you select 'Pause and wait for color reference', and the production type used for color reference is disabled, other production types will still be pushed forward automatically.
With the approach, there are three options you can choose with Color Reference:
Request from the First Production type
Request from Specific Production type
Use Selection from Production type
1. Request from the First Production type
This means that you will need to provide image(s), a minimum of 1 image and a maximum of 10, to be used as a color reference when the First Production type is produced. You will need to provide it at the Photography step.
With this option, I have the workflow GQ color ref 1 with the below settings:
Two production types: On Model and Tabletop
Color reference: Request from the First Production type
Post-production: Internal post
When you scan a product in Kelvin you will have to transfer all the requested images as set in the style guide and additional images to be used as color references.
Please note: The color reference will be required at the production type you choose to produce first whether it’s On Model or Tabletop in this example.
After uploading the images, the editing team will receive the information right away. They can see the color reference image in their HUE.
2. Request from Specific production type
This means that you will assign from which production type you want to request the color reference image(s). You will need to provide it at the Photography step.
With this option, I have the workflow GQ color ref 2 with the below settings:
Two production types: On Model and Tabletop
Color reference: Request from Specific production type -> Tabletop
Post-production: Internal post
When the On Model is produced first, Kelvin won’t ask for the color reference.
Since the color reference is only created in the Tabletop production type, this product for On Model is now waiting for a color reference. This means that the task is not available for Internal Post yet.
Then, when it’s time to produce the Tabletop, Kelvin will ask for the color reference.
The color reference is now available for both production types, Creative Force will release both production types to Internal Post.
3. Use Selection from Production type
This means that you will assign from which production type and at which step you want to select the color reference image(s).
With this option, you have to specify which position in the style guide you want to use as a color reference. Otherwise, Creative Force will automatically choose the first position.
Note: If your position is set as 'optional' then you cannot select this position as the color reference.
For this example, I have the workflow GQ color ref 3 with the below settings:
Two production types: On Model and Tabletop
Color reference: Use Selection from Production type -> Tabletop -> Photo Review
Photo review: All positions
Post-production: Internal post
Style guide: Color reference is Back position in Tabletop
This works similarly as the second option, if the On Model is produced first, Creative Force will hold it until the color reference is available. And the color reference is only available after the Photo Review of Tabletop is done.
NOTE:
When you have more than one production type, and you reset one of them:
Creative Force will remove the color reference file if it is not in use by any other production type
Creative Force will keep the color reference file if it is in use by any other production type